I think I’m a pretty funny gal. I’ve even written a few halfway-funny songs, or at least ones that have chuckle-worthy lines within.
But I’ve never been a comedy or parody song writer, and I greatly admire those who are. I’m a huge fan of Weird Al Yankovic, for example (what’s not to love about “I Lost on Jeopardy,” “Like a Surgeon,” and “Pretty Fly for a Rabbi”?), and Adam Sandler’s Hanukkah song (“Just smoke your marijuana-kah and drink your gin-and-tonic-kah”) made me proud to be an M.O.T. (Member of the Tribe).
I have some very talented friends who write some seriously funny songs, too: Check out the work Toby Fagenson, Bill Gessner and Wes Powers if you want to laugh…hard.
However, for this post I decided to interview someone a little more “extreme” (well, sexually explicit, at least) in the comedy-song world about writing funny songs — Eric Schwartz, whose ditty “Clinton Got a Blow Job” (’nuff said) won him a 1st place award in the 2008 International Songwriting Competition.
Here’s what Eric had to say…
Q: Do you think someone can learn to write funny songs? Or do you either have it or you don’t?
A: I think songwriting is a craft that can be learned. I think FUNNY is something you are or your aren’t. Learning to harness the funny is the craft part…not that your funny is always obvious at first. Perhaps it’s there and you haven’t exercised it…
Q: What is the biggest challenge of writing funny songs?
A: Well, there are several. One is that you can’t just be funny once and fill out the rest with words. A song is not a joke or a one-liner. It’s more like a short story that, ideally, should have an arc or the joke can get old. Pacing, timing, all essential. Just as in a “serious” song, if the words and music don’t support each other in terms of pace and energy, it doesn’t work.
Q: Where do you get your ideas for funny songs? What are some of the best inspirations for subject matter?
A: Funny songs can come from things that bother you (like George Bush), from things that strike you as funny (like stoned people or dirty kitchens) funny stories you hear. In my case, I’m the repository for the base thoughts of my friends. Can’t tell you how many times someone’s said something like “man, yesterday I blew my nose and this huuuuuuge booger came out and I was like man, Eric should write a song about this.” Sex is also fruitful. Uh…
Q: What advice would you give to songwriters who want to find their funny zone?
A: Start with what’s funny before you add the music. Goofy and funny are two very different things. Cute and funny are two very different things. Be willing to say what you actually think, not what’s socially acceptable. Humor often comes from truth. Be willing to tell the untellable. Don’t try to stretch one joke out for three minutes. Listen to the masters. Anger is good fodder for humor. Try writing as revenge. Get our your evilest, ugliest thoughts.
Q: Your personal favorite funny song?
A: Wow. So many of such different varieties. Zappa’s “Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow” and just about everything he did, Weird Al’s just brilliant, “Constipation Blues” by Screaming Jay Hawkins, One favorite of mine is “God” by George Wurzbach, sometimes performed with Modern Man. George is a master at using the pace of a ballad to juice the humor out of a situation. The way the funny lyric juxtaposes the serious music really brings out the humor. Brilliant.
Q: How do you match the music to the funny lyrics?
A: Music can serve to get the audience in the mood to laugh. Think Spike Jones. It can also serve (as above with George Wurzbach’s music) to create a contrast that adds funny to the funny. Think about the the power of parody. Think “Saving All My Love For You” and the emotion the song contains. Then think singing”Shaving off My Muff For You” instead. That being said, parody has the added bonus of taking the original song as the setup (usually a ballad’s a better setup) and using it as the “straight man”. Even without the original lyric to bounce off of, singing outrageous, dirty, ironic lyrics to a pretty or dark piece of music’s a great device. Funny lyric over funny music is great, but funny lyric over sad/pretty music can create an extra depth. The performance of the music is another layer. Playing a pretty piece straight is one thing. Playing it while wearing a tutu and spewing chicken salad out of your nose is entirely another.
